Light echoes from SN 1987A

In this image, taken with NTT and EMMI, light echoes from supernova SN 1987A are seen as two concentric rings around the bright star. Since the outburst of SN 1987A, light echoes have been used as an efficient way of studying the structure of the interstellar medium close to the supernova. SN1987A, detected in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud, was the closest explosion of this kind for several centuries, the first visible by naked-eye for 383 years and definitely an event of the greatest relevance in modern astronomy. ESO telescopes have been observing this object for more than twenty years.

More information in ESO Messenger 67, p37

Crediti:

ESO

Riguardo l'immagine

Identificazione:11_sn-1987a_cc
Tipo:Osservazione
Data di rilascio:Venerdì 12 Marzo 2010 18:51
Grandezza:745 x 1318 px

Riguardo all'oggetto

Nome:SN 1987A
Tipo:Local Universe : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Supernova
Distanza:170000 Anni luce
Categoria:Stars

Formati delle immagini

JPEG grande
503,7 KB

Zoom


Sfondi

1024x768
342,2 KB
1280x1024
501,1 KB
1600x1200
638,8 KB
1920x1200
681,8 KB
2048x1536
882,9 KB

Colori e filtri

BandaLunghezza d'ondaTelescopio
Ottico
H-alpha
665 nmNew Technology Telescope
EMMI

Exposure time: 1200s